House Committee on State Affairs - 77th R.S. (2001)

Committee:	House State Affairs
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	Report to the Texas House of Representatives, 78th Legislature / Committee on State Affairs.
Subjects:	Broadband infrastructure | Building and Procurement Commission, Texas | Electricity supplies | Electricity transmission and distribution | General Services Commission, Texas | Homeland security | Information Resources, Texas Department of | Rural issues | Telecommunications infrastructure | Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund | Terrorism |
Library Call Number:	L1836.77 st29h
Session:	77th R.S. (2001)
Online version:	View report [220 pages  File size: 5,169 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Examine the deployment of advanced telecommunications services throughout Texas and evaluate possible state policies to ensure availability of broadband service to all Texans. Study barriers faced by rural and urban communities in obtaining advanced services and explore ways for these communities, the state and cities to secure the benefits of affordable broadband access to underserved citizens.
2.	Determine what, if any, broadband access is available to the citizens of each rural community of the state and to each inner-city community in the state. Together with the Public Utility Commission, or another agency or university of the state, establish a system for tracking broadband service offerings in rural and inner-city communities on an on-going basis.
3.	Gather information related to the security of state-owned buildings and facilities, public and private communications systems and electric generation and transmission facilities. Review government regulations and business practices to determine whether legislation is needed to protect life and property and to detect, interdict and respond to acts of terrorism.
4.	Review the activities and mission of the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund, assess the extent to which the Fund has met the goal of extending services to underserved client groups, and consider whether the need for the Fund's programs extends beyond the statutory termination.
5.	Review the laws and procedures governing the siting of electric transmission lines. Consider how the need for transmission lines is determined, how routes are selected, the technology selected for a given route, the interests of landowners on whose property the lines are sited, and the interests of consumers and the public in siting decisions.
6.	Actively monitor agencies and programs under the committee's oversight jurisdiction, including the transfer of functions and duties of the former General Services Commission to the Texas Building and Procurement Commission and the Department of Information Resources.

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